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Author Topic:   Help me enlighten my wife...
Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 34 of 40 (470921)
06-13-2008 12:54 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by killinghurts
04-23-2008 11:43 PM


Cognitive dissonance
So it's here in the logic that I am stuck. To me the above quote lets JW's pretty much change ANYHING they want to "interpret" from the bible.
Secondly I love my wife and if something happens where she requires a blood transfusion, I would blame myself for not being able to enlighten her in the purity of lateral, logical and sane thinking.
When two people marry who are of opposite religions or belief systems, especially if they are very convicted about those beliefs, it tends to cause tension in the marriage. I wouldn't say that it is insurmountable, but if a large portion of these two people's beliefs are counter to one another, it will eventually cause some kind of a tension.
I would say that you should do whatever you can to respect her beliefs and request that she do the same for you. That doesn't mean placate her by never discussing it, but rather just be patient with her.
I agree that JW beliefs are odd, but she is entitled to her beliefs, especially if they were forged before you even met her. If I were you I would not go out of my way to crush her beliefs. I assume that you would not like it if she was trying to convert you every day of your marriage, so we have to go with the Golden Rule on this one, and don't prostyletize to her either. For some reason, some non-believers seem to think that they are exempt from preaching, but they aren't.
You also have to be careful for causing some cognitive dissonance. Even if you could convince/deceive her that her treasured beliefs are false, you may not like what might happen to her mind as a result. Her prospective disposition may end up being worse than it was before. You may think she is ignorant now, but she may just become completely lost and depressed. You would have to appreciate the situation for what it is. Imagine everything you thought was real was in fact a facade. What would that do to her? What would that do to you? We aren't talking about finding out that the Easter Bunny is not real, we are talking about an entire ideology, and possibly her very identity, wiped clean.
She may not know how to handle that, and she become insular to the point where the girl you married is now unrecognizable. I would suggest that you take that very seriously. I doubt very much that you could convince her otherwise in one or two conversations. I don't think you would want to either, because having her worldview collapse so suddenly could be catastrophic to her psyche.
The very best thing you can do is to love and support your and to respect her beliefs. Since her beliefs are a source of concern for you because you love her, then this should be done slowly. If your logic is so sound and so impeachable, then she will all but be forced to concede to the evidence. If you remember nothing else: Slow and steady wins the race.
Bombarding her with anti-apologetics and film on evolution, or what have you, is about as annoying to a Christian as creation films and "What would Jesus Do" pamphlets to atheists.
That's my suggestion. Glean from it what you will.

“I know where I am and who I am. I'm on the brink of disillusionment, on the eve of bitter sweet. I'm perpetually one step away from either collapse or rebirth. I am exactly where I need to be. Either way I go towards rebirth, for a total collapse often brings a rebirth." -Andrew Jaramillo

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by killinghurts, posted 04-23-2008 11:43 PM killinghurts has not replied

  
Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 37 of 40 (470948)
06-13-2008 3:01 PM
Reply to: Message 35 by randman
06-13-2008 1:28 PM


Your best approach is to talk with her about the Bible, what it says on these issues and study it with her. It may be if you can show her where the Bible, and accepting it as the word of God, disagrees with the JWs on some of these issues, then maybe she will consider the peculiar doctrines from the JWs not in line with the scriptures but maybe not.
The bigger issue is that he is an agnostic, so showing her common JW misinterpretations would be the least of his concern.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 35 by randman, posted 06-13-2008 1:28 PM randman has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 38 by brendatucker, posted 06-13-2008 3:34 PM Hyroglyphx has replied

  
Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 39 of 40 (470956)
06-13-2008 3:55 PM
Reply to: Message 38 by brendatucker
06-13-2008 3:34 PM


Re: Side Question
Do you think that if this new theory of evolution were accepted, that many agnostics and those in religions other than Christianity would aspire to participating in Christianity?
I don't know what this new theory of evolution entails, so I really can't make an honest assessment at this time.
Christianity could take in lots more students because they have a nice middle-of-the-road approach that more people will be willing to participate in. These same people could satisfy their curiosity by reading about steps being taken and accomplishments being made by the researchers and schools can just be kept out of it.
If Christianity still means what I think it means, following the dictates of Jesus, then a cushy, middle-of-the-road outlook is in direct contravention of his teachings. For Jesus it was not a popularity contest, or a to recruit people to a new religion, it was, and still is, supposed to represent a lifestyle submissive to the perfect will of God. It is about doing the right thing, regardless of whether or not other people agree.
Still, though, you imply something very interesting. Jesus gave the Great Commission, to preach the word. Some people have not mastered that art. Because the topic of God makes for discomfort for many people. Either you alienate or you bring in.
Street corner evangelism is something that even I avoid. I see it as alienating and ineffective, in general.

“I know where I am and who I am. I'm on the brink of disillusionment, on the eve of bitter sweet. I'm perpetually one step away from either collapse or rebirth. I am exactly where I need to be. Either way I go towards rebirth, for a total collapse often brings a rebirth." -Andrew Jaramillo

This message is a reply to:
 Message 38 by brendatucker, posted 06-13-2008 3:34 PM brendatucker has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 40 by brendatucker, posted 06-13-2008 4:41 PM Hyroglyphx has not replied

  
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